Radiation Measurement

Some questions by freshmen ・I hear that radiation rays are dangerous. ・If it is dangerous, why do we use such a dangerous thing for medical treatment? ・Is it safe for health workers to use it?

We received such candid questions from students.

Needless to say, radiation is literally energy. So, it naturally can be extremely dangerous to use radiation incorrectly as it is perfectly obvious to even primary school students that they can burn their fingers by grabbing a burning match with their bare hands.
However if you try to avoid using fire or knives because of their danger, we cannot lead comfortable lives. Every one knows that dynamite is very dangerous thing to handle. The more useful things are the more dangerous they could be when used in the wrong way.
You can say the same thing about the radiation ray. It is used not only in the medical field but also in various other fields because it is very useful. So in our department students learn the safe way of its use and how to control it, and then they receive qualifications of candidacy for the national examination for the use of radiation rays in medical fields.



You can check whether the radiation ray is dangerous or not, and if it is controlled safely, by measuring the amount of radiation. The natural world is brimming over with various kinds of radiation rays. But people cannot notice it properly even if its amount is dangerously excessive. In the laboratory, you will learn the theory and method how to measure the amount of different kinds of radiation rays correctly instead of using human beings’ five senses, and study about the characteristics of the measuring device and practice how to use it.
It is a fascinating field.

Main experimental selection ・Calibration of radiation counter ・Ionization chamber dose meter characteristics ・Characteristics of GM counter ・Energy analysis for Ionization radiation ・X-ray quality assessment for x-ray generator by using computer ・Environmental radiation measurement with survey meter

last updated: June 20, 2006